On July 18, 1996, at 2015 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 172M, N9731V, operated as a solo instructional flight, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at Mad River Airport, in Tremont City, Ohio. The student pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Tremont City, Ohio, at 1950. The student pilot reported that she completed one landing successfully. She stated that on the second landing, "...As I approached the runway, using nearly full flaps and at the correct airspeed, I began the flare at what I considered to be the appropriate time. Instead of settling to the surface, the airplane ballooned and I increased back pressure, causing a rapid drop of the aircraft...." The airplane touched down hard on the grass runway, the nosegear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. The student pilot indicated that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction. The student pilot reported that she had 19.8 hours total flight experience, including 16.6 hours in the accident make and model airplane. She indicated that she had 2.5 hours total flight time as pilot-in-command.